2011 Montes "Classic" Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley

SKU #112296390 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2011 Montes Classic Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 15% Merlot and offers a simple black currant, vanilla and violet bouquet that is joyful and well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannin, crisp raspberry and dark cherry fruit, zesty acidity and lovely focus on the finish. At this price, it would be hard to find a better Cabernet. Drink now-2016.
(12/2012)

K&L Notes

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Merlot was sourced from the Colchagua Valley and aged for six months in new and previously filled French oak barrels. Vina Montes is well known for their strong stable of Bordeaux varietal wines, and this is a particularly good showing for their entry level Cabernet which shows well-defined varietal character. Few other under-$10 Cabernets in the world can compete. From the winery: "Intense ruby-red color. The nose is packed with layers of caramel, cinnamon, candy and hints of mint, with a prevalence of fruit over oak. A spicy, full-flavored wine, with good body, rich red fruit with a touch of vanilla, mocha and firm and friendly tannins. A fruity, sophisticated and elegant wine with the expression of the teroir of Colchagua Valley."

Product Reviews:

Upon first tasting this a month or so ago, I knew that it would be a big hit with our customers. All the things folks look for in a value Cab are here: generous, ripe dark fruit, lightly toasted vanilla notes and good persistence on the mid palate and finish. The wine opens up nicely with air, too, gaining in freshness and structure. This vintage of Montes definitely punches outside of its weight class and for $10 will make most Cab fans very happy indeed.

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking.
A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

Chile

- Located on the western coast of South America and bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes to the East, the Chilean wine-growing climate is similar to that of California's Napa Valley and Bordeaux. The Chilean wine industry is known for being consistently free of phylloxera, but political and economic unrest has brought its own source of disorder. The recent establishment of a free market has resuscitated the wine industry, and significant investments have been made, switching the economic focus from domestic production to exports. Chile produces roughly a quarter of the wine Argentina produces, and is known for single-varietal exports, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. It's a popular region in the U.S. known for inexpensive and tasty wine. Click for a list of bestselling items from Chile.